How is polystyrene concrete manufactured?

The use of polystyrene concrete in construction has a number of advantages associated with certain characteristics of the substance. After all, this is a universal material, which is most often used for work related to insulation, it is durable, has low thermal conductivity, and good resistance to extreme temperatures, due to which it is not amenable to the action of fire. And due to the low weight of polystyrene concrete, made by hand, it is convenient to use, the shrinkage of the building is minimal. The composition of the same material, as a rule, includes water, filler and astringent.

Due to the fact that polystyrene concrete is a cellular structure, it is an excellent thermal insulation material used in modern construction. It is not so difficult to make foam polystyrene concrete by your own hands, as it may seem at first glance. If you follow certain advice on this matter, and even more so the mixing ratio, then the quality of the received material will not be inferior to the factory one. After all, the composition includes only water, which can be easily obtained, granules of foam and various types of binding material. As a rule, it is either concrete or gypsum. To increase the efficiency, manufacturing polystyrene concrete with their own hands, you can use all kinds of additives.

What is necessary for manufacturing

Such an active use of this material in modern construction is explained by the fact that the price for polystyrene concrete is much lower than for other building materials, and the quality is, nevertheless, no worse. And, making polystyrene concrete in the home, you can save even more at its cost price. To prepare this material, you need a set of tools, including a conventional shovel, as well as a concrete mixer.

When polystyrene concrete is made by oneself, it is possible to use quartz sand, expanded polystyrene in granules in addition to the above components. Depending on what kind of density should be in the end concrete, you should carefully choose the size and dosage of all components. So, for the manufacture of polystyrene concrete D550 sand and cement are mixed in one-to-one ratio, after which foamed polystyrene is added to this mixture, usually put 0.5 cubic meters. After all the ingredients have been mixed, the resulting mass is placed in a concrete mixer and turned on at medium power. During work, add water, tar, constantly mixing the whole mixture.

When polystyrene concrete is ready for work

To prepare polystyrene concrete by own hands, tar is used because it gives the mixture water-repellent properties. After the mixing process is completed, the resulting mixture is poured into molds that can be easily made from boards, knocking them together and treating the inside with engine oil. The setting time of the mixture is, as a rule, about 24-25 hours, after which the block is pulled out of the mold and left in a cool place to dry. After two or three weeks they will be ready for use.